I met Cathy Chernysh on a warm and sunny afternoon last week. It’s the kind of weather most of us can’t wait for. Unless, like Cathy, you suffer from migraines.
For 35 years, she’s spent weeks at a time locked in dark, cool places like her basement, especially this time of year.
“Summertime is especially bad,” she told me. “There will be times when my husband will come in and I’ll have my head stuck in the freezer just trying to cool off.” Doctors say this isn’t unusual, and many migraine sufferers find summertime a real pain.
Cathy’s search for relief brought her to The Centre for Headache at Women’s College Hospital. It’s one of only a handful of specialized headaches centres in Canada, with an extraordinary neurologist at its helm (more than one patient has told me what a difference she has made for them).
Dr. Christine Lay says the head, humidity, changes in barometric pressure and exposure to direct sunlight are all problematic. But the summer also plays host to other, more unexpected, migraine triggers.
“A lot of times, things that are barbequed are problematic for patients. Hot dogs, smoked meats or things with nitrates in them. Also, a lot of the barbeques and social events will have pretty, fruity summer drinks. And often those fruit-flavoured drinks have a little bit of food dye or food colour in them, or a lot of sugar, and they also potentially trigger a headache for patients.”
So can the stress of summer entertaining and travelling, so try and maintain a regular eat and sleep schedule.
Dr. Lay says if you’re suffering more than four headaches a month, your medication also likely needs an overhaul.
“Medication overuse is extremely prevalent. Patients aren’t aware, physicians aren’t aware that some of these simple over-the-counter medications, if used even one or two days a week, potentially will trigger more frequent headaches.”
Her advice? First keep a diary to pinpoint what your specific triggers are. But when it comes to summer specifically, here’s her list:
-invest in a good quality pair of sunglasses that offer both UVA and UVB protection
-wear a sun hat
-avoid meats with nitrates, like the smoked variety
-avoid food and drinks containing food colouring or artificial sweeteners
-keep a regular eat/sleep schedule
-avoid fragranced sunscreen/insect repellent
-stay hydrated
-take a close look at your medications
-if you are still suffering, consider a second opinion
While the waiting list is long, you can get in to see Dr. Lay with a referral note. The phone number for the Centre for Headache at Women’s College Hospital 416-323-6136. It could be the best call you make. It was for Cathy, who is now happily out of her basement this summer, and enjoying her life again.